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My 03 Chevy Trailblazer wont start half the time. Help!?
About 2 months ago my 03 trailblazer would not start. Or it would run awhile and then quit. I took it to 3 mechanics and they said it was the fuel pump. The fuel pump for my car was just too expensive for my budget so I decided to wait to replace the pump. As I was having it towed home the tow truck driver said he would also take a look at it. At home he noticed that the fuel pump "relay" was hot so he replaced it. Guess what...my car started. It ran fine for 2 months. Now it is doing it again. Once it dies I have to replace the relay with another in order to get it running. It does not even have to be a new one. I have 3 relays I rotate to get it running. When the car does not start I try one of the three in until it does start. Eventually it does start. It is almost like the car tires of one relay and has to have the one from yesterday. All three relays are good, it is just which one will work "today". I am pulling my hair out trying to figure this out. I cannot afford to pay $500.00 to replace the pump just to then find out it is something different and then have to pay for as well. Please help if you have an answer.
6 Answers
- Terry OLv 51 decade agoFavorite Answer
First, get a pressure gauge for your fuel pump, and test rail pressure. It should be in the area of 60psi. Check it several times, when you first turn on the car, the pump will start creating pressure that will be for about 5 to 10 seconds after the car is turned on. I do not remember the real time, but I know it is short.
If the pressure does not come near this value, then your pump is bad and replacing it is your only option.
If you elect to replace the pump it is not that difficult, but I can not do it in 20 minutes like the one responder.
Take it down to the car wash and clean in and around the tank, there is a lot of gravel up there.
You do not have to remove the tank(make sure the tank is at least half empty), you can just undo the straps an let the tank down enough to access the top of the tank at the rear. There are two tabs which must be bent up to allow the nut to be turned and the fuel pump is below the large sheet metal nut. When undoing the filler pipe and the vent pipe, DO NOT cut them, take a small screw driver under the edge of the rubber tube and work it up, if you cut it, you will spend as much on tubing as you will on the pump. the pump I think ran about $60 or 80. you will receive all the parts required and a replacement connector for the sender unit. Might as well install it before the old on goes out.
You will need a crimper to perform this.
Install the new gasket on the top of the nut and put it back together. I found supporting the vehicle on jack stands and use the floor jack to support the tank to be the best approach. DO NOT apply power to see if the pump works before you get all the hoses connected. I have seen some very exciting moments because of this, had to do with an incandecent drop light.
I think what is occurring is changing relays is just giving multiple try's on the pump and one will catch so to speak. Next time you repeat the process and so on.
Oh, if you still want to spend $500, you could send me the balance, i will find something to do with it. :-)
- 1 decade ago
Sounds like your fuel pump is drawing a lot of amps which is why the relay gets hot. Once you replace the relay with one that is cool it works because relays do not like to work when they are hot. Once you do replace the fuel pump it will stop the relay from heating up because that fuel pump is wearing out and has to work harder to keep running which then draws a lot more amps. A new pump will draw the correct amount for the relay and not heat it up. Next step is save up for the pump because it will eventually just quit altogether and no relay will get it started.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
It sounds like your mechanics were right. When the pumps start to go bad they draw more power through the wires which would cause the relay to get hot. I have replaced dozens of GM fuel pumps with the same problem. If you keep driving it the pump will go out completely. Another point of advice, do not use a cheap pump, it will only burn out again. Use only a Delco pump in your TrailBlazer.
Source(s): ASE Certified Mechanic - 1 decade ago
Sounds like a computer problem to me. A relay is going to get hot or at least warm. and your fuel pump can be tested by your local Chevy Dealer. If you are getting 45 to 55 psi to the fuel rail you should be fine. Another thing to look at is if it is sluggish or skips or misses. Does it die going down the road? If it doesn't die going down the road there is most likly another problem. And who told you 500 bucks to replace a fuel pump? I found one on Ebay for 125. For the labor I would do it myself. Takes little know how and is a 45 minute job for me. Maybe a job for you and a buddy. But I would have some test ran before I bought a pump, Hope this helps
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- 1 decade ago
I don't know the exact answer but it sounds like you got too much voltage going to the relay and its getting hot, there may be a resistor somewhere that has gone out on the power side or you may have a bad ground.
There is a place on the web where you can talk to live experienced automotive technicians for little as $9.00. I have used them and you don't have to pay unless your satisfied with thier answer.
I would cut and paste your question in their question box.
www.justanswer.com
